CRICKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1927, Page 3

CRICKET.

NEW ZEALAND TEAM AT HOME (Australian Press Association & Sun.) (Received this day at 9.30 a.in.) LONDON, Aug. o. With a draw seemingly inevitable the filial day at the Oval opened with less vim, though during the first hour, there was apparently some in the wicket, on which the result ot a soaking dew. the half occasionally cut capers. Dempster hesitatingly played the first hall of the day backwards into point's hands. Lowry just managed his thousand in first class cricket and then gave the tamest of catches in the slips. Page played outside a swinger and was taken at the wicket, while James immediately skied the ball to mid-on. Thus in half an hour four men had gone for only 21. Blunt and .McGirr resorted to forcing tactics and hit up 75 in 45 minutes, both making delightful cover shots. Bi’unt was out from the first weak strike lie made, caught at mid-oil'. The consistent Merritt alone stayed to help McGirr, who lasted nearly two hours and hit seven fours. The last wicket fell at 371. leaving Surrey 308 to get. The County began in a had light and nil' the fourth hall Hobbs was caught at long leg. Saudi lain and Ducat recovered this loss hv an excellent partnership which produced a hundred in an hour and it was broken by the former being caught behind the wicket where James gave a spi'enclid exhibition all through the innings. After Dm at left the wickets fell cheaply to Merritt and with 8 down for 207 victory seemed assured to the colonials. The stocky Barling. Surrey’s new professional, came to the rescue, and Hameken and young MeCanli- from Oxford University assisted him to set up a dogged resistance. Between them they added 7i without further loss and the match was drawn after looking a good thing lor the New Zealanders.

Scores:— NEW ZEALAND.—First Innings 313 Mills, I, Holmes 33 Dempster, c Peach, b Geary 109 Page, e Machin. h Geary 00 Lowry, r MaeCanlis, b Peach ... I Blunt, c Geary, b .Shepherd 30 Janies, c Sandhain, b Geary 3 .McGirr. b Peach ... 00 Dacre. b McCanlis 13 Ali'eott, c Machin. b Shepherd ... 0 Merrill, c Snndliain. b Geary ... 39 Henderson (not out) 0 Extras 13

Total 371 Bowling.--Geary, 4 for 79; McCanlis. 1 for 07 : Poach. 2 for 77 ; Holmes, 1 for 01; Shepherd, 2for 51; Gregory, 0 for 19. SURREY.—First Innings 377 SURREY.—Second Innings. Hobbs, v Merritt, b McGirr 0 Sandham. c James, b Merritt ... 50 Ducat, c Blunt, b Ailcotl 100 Sheplieid, st. James, li Merritt ... 3 Holmes, st. James, b Merritt ... 23 Beach, li Merritt 0 Barling (not out) 78 Gregory, 1.h.w., b Merritt 3 -Machin, b Blunt 2 McCanlis (not out) 19 Extras (I Total for 8 wickets 281 Bowling.—McGirr, 1 for 43; Allcott, 1 for 2(5; Blunt. 1 for 03; Page, 0 for 39; Merritt, 5 for 103; Dempster, 0 for -J.

CRICKET AMENITIES. (Received this day at 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 6. Surrey Club gave a dinner to the New Zealanders at the Oval. Lowry said the team has done far better than they or anyone anticipated at the outset of the tour. Alanager Hay alluded to the progress of the game made in New Zealand and the educational advantages secured from mud wickets. He thought in addition to Lowry they had four or five batsmen who could give a good account of themselves oil slow wickets.